When the then finance minister Morarji Desai rose to present the Union budget on the evening of February 28, 1963, he clarified that he would speak more on the challenges on the border rather than dwell on economic trends. Small wonder then that he earmarked Rs 708.5 crore out of an estimated expenditure of Rs 1,852 crore — a staggering 38% — for the defence sector. He also decided to do away with the traditional practice of identifying expenditure for the army, navy and the air force under separate heads, citing national security concerns. He then profusely expressed his gratitude to the US and Britain for rushing to India’s assistance with military equipment and supply during the India-China conflict of 1962.